Pandurang Sadashiv Sane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Pandurang Sadashiv Sane 24 December 1899 |
| Died | 11 June 1950 (aged 50) Mumbai |
| Occupation | Writer, teacher, social activist, freedom fighter |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Notable works | Shyamchi Aai |
Pandurang Sadashiv Sane (Marathi pronunciation:[paːɳɖuɾəŋɡsəd̪aːʃiʋsaːne]pronunciationⓘ ; 24 December 1899 – 11 June 1950), also known asSane Guruji (Guruji meaning "respected teacher") by his students and followers, was aMarathi author, teacher, social activist and freedom fighter fromMaharashtra, India. His literature was aimed at educating children.After Gandhi's assassination, he became very upset. He then died due to overdose of his sleeping pills.
Sane was born on 24 December 1899 in a Brahmin[1] household of Sadashivrao and Yashodabai Sane inPalgad village near Dapoli town,Bombay State inBritish India (in present-dayRatnagiri district of theKonkan region ofMaharashtra state). He was their third child and second son. His father, Sadashivrao, was a revenue collector traditionally referred to as akhot, who evaluated and collected village crops on behalf of the government, and was allowed to keep twenty-five percent of his collections as his own share. The family was relatively well off during Sane's early childhood, but their financial condition later deteriorated, leading to their house being confiscated by government authorities. Unable to face the trauma and hardship, Sane's mother Yashodabai died in 1917. His mother's death due to a lack of medical facilities as well as his inability to meet her at her deathbed would haunt Sane Guruji for the rest of his life.
Sane completed his primary education in the village of Dondaicha, in theShindkhedataluka in Dhule district. After his primary education, he was sent toPune to live with his maternal uncle for further education. However, he did not like his stay in Pune and returned to Palgadh to stay at a missionary school in Dapoli, about six miles from Palgad. While at Dapoli, he was quickly recognised as an intelligent student with good command over both the Marathi andSanskrit languages. He was also interested in poetry.
While in school at Dapoli, the financial condition of his family deteriorated further and he could not afford to continue his education. Like his elder brother, he considered taking up a job to help with the family finances. However, on the recommendation of one of his friends, and with support from his parents, he enrolled at the Aundh Institution, which provided free education and food to poor students. Here at Aundh he suffered many hardships but continued his education. However, an epidemic ofbubonic plague inAundh led to all students being sent home.
Back in Palgad, one night he overheard his parents' conversation where his father expressed concern over his son's dedication to education. Enraged and hurt by his father's suspicion, he immediately traveled to Pune and enrolled as a student at theNutan Marathi Vidyalaya.[2] Life was not easy for Sane in Pune either, and he subsisted on limited meals. However, he continued to excel in academics and obtained his high school matriculation certificate in 1918. After high school, he enrolled for further education in New Poona College (now known asSir Parshurambhau College). He obtained his B.A. and M.A. degrees there inMarathi andSanskrit literature.[3]
Sane's father Sadashivrao was a supporter ofLokmanya Tilak. However, after being imprisoned for a few days, he preferred to keep away from political matters.[4] However, Sane Guruji's mother proved to be a great influence in his life. He graduated with a degree in Marathi and Sanskrit and earned a master's degree in philosophy, before opting for a teaching profession. Sane worked as the teacher in Pratap High School inAmalner town. He chose to teach in rural schools, forgoing a potentially larger salary he could have earned by teaching wealthier students. He also worked as a hostel warden. Sane was a gifted orator, captivating audiences with his impassioned speeches on civil rights and justice.[5] While in school he published a magazine namedVidyarthi (Marathi:विद्यार्थी;vidyārthī) which became very popular among students.[5] He inculcated moral values in the student community, amongst whom he was very popular. His teaching profession continued only for six years and thereafter he decided to dedicate his life for theIndian independence struggle.
Sane resigned from his school job to join theIndian Independence Movement whenMahatma Gandhi started theDandi March in 1930. He was imprisoned by theBritish authorities in theDhule Jail for more than fifteen months for his work in theCivil Disobedience Movement. In 1932,Vinoba Bhave was in the same jail as Sane. Bhave delivered a series of lectures on theBhagavad Gita each Sunday morning. Bhave's workGītā Pravachane (Marathi:गीता प्रवचने) was an outcome of the notes Sane had made while imprisoned.[6] During the period of 1930 to 1947, Sane Guruji participated in different agitations and was arrested on eight occasions and was imprisoned in the jails atDhule, Trichinapally,Nasik, Yeravada, andJalgaon for a total duration of six years and seven months in different jails. He also observed fast on seven occasions. Sane Guruji was imprisoned second time in the Trichnapalli Jail, where he learnedTamil andBengali. He translated the ancient Tamil moral work of theKural into Marathi.[7] He recognised the importance of learningIndian languages, particularly in the context of the problem of national integration; and started theAntar Bharati movement.Antarbharati Anuvad Suvidha Kendra (Marathi:अंतरभारती अनुवाद सुविधा केन्द्र;Inter-Indian Translation Services Centre) and theSane Guruji Rashtriya Smarak (Marathi:साने गुरुजी राष्ट्रीय स्मारक; Sane Guruji National Memorial) would continue this legacy.[8]
Sane played a crucial role in the spread of theIndian National Congress presence in rural Maharashtra, particularly inKhandesh. He was actively involved in the organisation of theFaizpur Session of the Congress. He also participated in the Election Campaign of the Bombay Provincial Elections of 1936.[9][10] He participated in the 1942Quit India Movement and was imprisoned for 15 months for it. During this period he became closely associated with Congress socialists likeMadhu Limaye.
In the late 1930s, Sane was part of a working-class movement in the East Khandesh District. He played a crucial role in organising the textile labour and peasants of Khandesh.[11] During this period he was associated with communists such as S. M. Dange. However the Communist position to support theSecond World War made him dissociate himself from the Communists.[11] After independence he joined the Socialist party[3] and he was closer to leaders likeMadhu Limaye, N. G. Gore, andS.M. Joshi. Sane was a vehement critic ofHindu nationalist parties such as theRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and their allies.[12]
In response to Mahatma Gandhi's promise toBabasaheb Ambedkar duringPoona Pact that he will spend the rest of his life campaigning for the removal of untouchability, Sane took up the cause as well. To bring awareness on the issue of untouchability, Sane travelled throughout Maharashtra for around four months in 1947.[10][13] The culmination of this tour was hisfast atPandharpur to open theVitthal Temple for untouchables. The fast lasted 11 days from 1 May to 11 May 1947, and the doors of the Vitthal temple were ultimately opened for the untouchables.[10][13]
In the post-independence period, Sane became increasingly disillusioned over the possibilities of eliminating inequality from Indian society. Moreover the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi deeply affected him. His response to this tragedy was to fast for 21 days.[9] Sane Guruji was upset very much after the independence of the country due to several reasons. He committed suicide on 11 June 1950 by overdosing onsleeping pills.[3][14]
Guruji wrote around 135 books and about 73 books have been published and almost all these books can be considered[20] literature for children. His most well-known work inMarathi literature includeŚhyamchi Aai which has been translated in almost all the Indian languages as well as in Japanese and English. The others include 'Bhāratiya Saṃskṛti' (Marathi:भारतीय संस्कृति;Indian Culture) and Patri- the collection of various songs and poems.
One of his books, 'Teen Muley', is a heart warming story of a group of three children and is considered classic and one of the best books written in Marathi.
He started a weekly journal namedSadhana (weekly) on 15 August 1948. This journal has been regularly published since then.[15]
Notes
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